Chapter 2 – The Child Who Was Erased

Vanessa backed away until she hit the edge of the dining table.

“Luca, let me explain,” she stammered.

“Explain what?” Luca demanded, holding the locket up. “This is the same blanket my mother had on her bed. The one you just forced her to give up. And this baby…”

He looked closer at the photograph.

His hand began to tremble.

“This baby has a birthmark on his left cheek. Just like…” Luca couldn’t finish the sentence.

Teresa let go of my hand and stood up. Her legs were shaky, but she stood tall.

“Just like Sarah,” the old woman said clearly.

The name sucked the air out of the room.

I had only heard whispers about Sarah among the older staff. She was Luca’s first love. The woman he was supposed to marry eight years ago.

Before the tragic car accident that took her life.

“Sarah is dead,” Luca whispered, staring at his mother. “She died before we could get married.”

“That’s what they told you,” Teresa said, tears streaming down her wrinkled cheeks. “That’s what your father made me swear to keep quiet about.”

Michael took another step back toward the door. “Mom, shut up. You’re ruining everything.”

“I’m saving my son!” Teresa fired back. She looked at Luca. “Sarah didn’t die in that crash, sweetheart. The accident was real, but she survived. She was pregnant, Luca.”

Luca looked like he had been struck. “Pregnant? With my child?”

“Yes,” Teresa sobbed. “But Michael and your father… they didn’t want you marrying her. She didn’t come from money. They told her you didn’t want the baby. And they told you she died.”

I felt sick to my stomach.

I looked at Vanessa. She was clutching her silk dress, her face pale.

“Where does Vanessa fit into this?” Luca asked, his eyes dark with a rage I had never seen before.

“Vanessa was the nurse at the private clinic,” Michael blurted out, trying to save himself. “She helped arrange the transfer. We paid her to keep quiet. Then she realized she could get closer to you, Luca. She played the comforting friend.”

Vanessa slapped Michael across the face. “You coward! You orchestrated the whole thing because you wanted control of the company!”

Luca didn’t care about their bickering. He looked at the locket again.

“If Sarah survived,” Luca said, his voice breaking, “where is she? Where is my child?”

Teresa pointed a trembling finger at the silver keys in Luca’s hand.

“He’s at West Addison, Luca. He’s been there for eight years.”

Luca turned on his heel. “Hannah. Bring my mother to the car. Now.”

I didn’t hesitate. I grabbed Teresa’s arm, but as we moved toward the door, Vanessa grabbed a steak knife from the dining table.

“Nobody is leaving!” she screamed.

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